Burnley for the Champions League - why not?
World of Sport Reporter: @rjmcevoy
World of Sport Editor: @worldofsport
It seems like Sean Dyche is less fashionable than the town he currently works in - Burnley. You have to wonder what he has to do to get a managerial job at a bigger club. And there are probably 18 bigger clubs just in the Premier League.
With no teams touching Claudio Ranieri even after he won the league, its unlikely that the Big 6 (formerly Top 6 until Burnley broke in) would appoint him under any circumstances. The level below, comprising of Everton, Southampton, West Ham, Newcastle, Leicester, WBA and maybe Palace have all changed managers in the last 12 months. Dyche didn’t get a job offer at any of those either.
What is it about Dyche that bigger clubs don't like?
With the Championship full of sleeping giants like Aston Villa, Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday, and the EPL full of smaller teams no bigger than Burnley, it’s hard to see anything other than Dyche staying put at a club that love him and where he has everything he could want, apart from money and prestige. And that, for Burnley is a good thing.
Burnley isn't known outside of Lancashire, nevermind England, but there's a buzz about the unfashionable town and word is spreading. Currently, the people of Burnley are talking about the possibilities of Champions League football, and not just about where they can find a free stream for this week’s games. The local Burnely folk are dreaming of the Champions League themselves. Burnley v Barcelona at Turf Moor, imagine that.
Could Turf Moor be hosting the likes of Barcelona next season?
The owner of a local pub, The Princess Royal, has declared he will rename the pub ‘The Dyche Arms’ should Burnley finish in the Top 4 and qualify for Europe’s elite competition. As unlikely an event that may be, it’s great for the Premier League that such a team like Burnley are even in contention at this stage in the season.
The reason is the world loves an underdog story. Remember Leicester? The New York Times printed a story about Burnley last week – that’s a broadsheet in a country that don’t even go for football! Now fans around the world are fascinated how a team who don’t have any stars, or any discernable special plan, are outplaying the big boys. As with Leicester two years previous, Burnley are becoming everyone’s second (or third) favourite team based on the outlandish league position compared with salaries and expectation.
Burnley skyline
And as Hollywood and the Premier League know nothing sells like an underdog story. It draws in dreamers, neutrals and non-sport lovers, all of whom buy into the story and root for the little guy. How else do you explain the success of Moneyball, a film about a team who won precisely nothing.
If Burnley’s form continues, and with performances in the last few games being an upgrade on earlier in the season, there is no reason they cant, the Premier League might have something else to sell rather than thrills and spills. Bad news for Dyche and other teams, but great news for Burnley and the future Dyche Arms.
Sources:
www.dailymail.co.uk
www.itv.com
www.stadiumguide.com
www.skysports.com
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That reminds me of the story of Brian Clough who never got the chance to become the manager of the national team. English football will always be conservative in this regard.
The FA are definitely conservative, but clubs don't go for managers like Dyche because he hasn't proven himself on the big stage. But how can he ever prove himself on the big stage when he's never invited up there?
I agree. It's the fact that you need a "proven" stamp is a conservative approach. You dont need that stamp in Italy for example to become the manager of Milan like Gattuso did lately.
Very true.
Thank you for your post! We wish Burnley Club all the best in the future.
Go Burnley ... Go Burnley ... for Champions League!
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It's interesting watching Burnley this season. They were the first team to really challenge Man City at the Etihad, they beat Chelsea and only lost to Arsenal in really unlucky fashion. Looking at squads at the start of the season, I thought Watford would be the dark horses, but I'm delighted to see Burnley doing well. They've stuck with Dyche and he deserves good things. Especially after he resisted the Everton temptations.